Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A nonprofit is tackling a startling trend on the rise among young boys ahead of National Mentoring Month in January.
"One in seven boys is reporting not having any friends at all," said Terry McCarron, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts' Chief Program Officer. "Big Brothers, Big Sisters is very much in support of all young people. We want to see all young people thriving, and the conversation about boys is really topical because the trends we're seeing in greater Boston are pretty alarming."
The Big Brothers, Big Sisters' mentoring program program pairs adults up with young kids in need of a role model, and ahead of National Mentoring Month, they are looking for males willing to step up to play sports or hang out with a mentee.
"It can be going out for a slice of pizza, doing an art project," McCarron said.
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Across the nation, the nonprofit says there has been a sharp uptick in loneliness among boys and young men. What is the root cause?
"Young people are consuming a lot of content and examples about manhood or about adulthood online," McCarron said. "That's fabricated and oftentimes a fantasy that's not true."
Nearly three times as many boys as girls are currently on the mentor waiting list. The nonprofit offers programs to kids and adults regardless of gender. McCarran said their most common call for help is among mothers looking out for their sons.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.
